Autism is a growing condition, with the incidence growing by 10 to 17 percent a year since the early 1990s. It is now an estimated 1.5 million Americans have an autistic disorder, according to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As researchers explore further into their understanding of autism, they begin to look for more warning signs of autism within young children. Identifying early signs of autism is a growing area of research, much of which is being led by the team of doctors at The Autism Program at Yale. The goal is to identify children with early signs of possible autism, and start services at a young age to provide the most help possible.
Impairment in Social Interaction
Geraldine Dawson, director of the Autism Center at the University of Washington's Center on Human Development and Disability, explains that more babies fixate on their parents face and make eye contact. However, autistic children of all ages avoid making eye contact. Dawson goes on to explain in an article from the Autistic Society, that lack of eye contact with parents is a red flag for the early detection of autism. This information is further supported by research published in 2004 in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders from Dr. Wetherby and associates. Researchers found that typical games for infants, such as peek-a-boo, usually elicit a response of smiles or laughter from a child. The lack of these responses should be viewed as a early warning sign to be further investigated.
Impairment in Communication
At a very young age, communication begins with cooing, babbling and trying to repeat sounds. According to Dr. Pauline Filipek of Orange, Calif, typically when you hold a baby, he looks at your face, imitates you and makes sounds. By age 4 or 5 months, a baby should try to have "conversations" with parents. A child who does not engage in these interactions is missing out on crucial early learning regarding communication. Furthermore, Dr. Wetherby, and associates showed in their research that communication problems, such as unusual sound patterns, a nearly constant pitch, irregular rhythm or unusual voice quality also can be points of concern.
Repetitive Behaviors / Interests
To some degree all babies enjoy repetitive sounds and games as it is part of how they learn, however some infants may become fixated on a particular object. The Autistic Society explains that autistic children may focus solely, and repeatedly, on a single object and their parents may have difficulty redirecting their attention. Repetitive movements of either an object or the body--a common characteristic of autism, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention--should be seen in infants as a possible early warning sign.
